Siem Reap & Angkor

Wow is all I can say. Don't know how many time my breath has been taken away in the last 3 days but it has been a lot.

Arriving around midday I was kindly picked up by staff at the Golden Mango (great hotel but a bit pricey) then into Siem Reap to grab a beer. It was noticeably hotter than KL but not too bad. 

Some me staff at the cafe advised me to head to Angkor that day after 4.45 so I can buy a ticket for the next day but that it would also allow me to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat. GREAT TIP! all I can say is that the pictures do it no justice! The night was finished with nice beers with a load of guys in town. Perfect.

Next was off to Angkor for the full temple day. This place is HUGE. Hard to explain but it is a must for anyone coming here despite the number of tourists. See pics again. Finally, after getting in at 3am I started speaking to a hotel guy who agreed to take me to see "real Cambodia" the next day...  

This guys is not a guide by the way

This is where it really started. Yao took me from the hotel out to meet people living off the river explaining everything about their life. Next of to his own home where his sister cooked us a huge lunch (breakfast was 1 hr ago, bit hungover and disgusting food are not a good combination...I battled through) and met his mum and dad.

Next he took me through all the fields introducing me to the farmers who allowed me to work the rice fields fields for an hr with them edits drinking some rice wine. These people have never seen a western face but could not have been more welcoming.

Finally we head to one sisters family house for fresh coconut juice then brothers family house for fresh fruit from the garden each family giving me gifts! At the end we head back to the hotel an when I ask how much Yao says "I dont do this for money, this is my gift to you for visiting my country and being friendly to me"...

I repeat...WOW...just unbelievable people, please know that outside of the city are people not begging or scamming, real nice hard working people and everyone should try to meet them while here.

Next stop Bangkok!